Two Great Weeks!

On January 7, we left for a post holiday trip to the east coast. We flew to Raleigh, NC and rented a car and drove to Blacksburg, Virgina. While in Blacksburg we walked around the Virgina Tech campus, visited Mike's research lab, and Diane's employment.

Friday, even though the weather was 32 chilly degrees, we donned warm clothing and hiked four miles to McAfee's Knob. The trail to McAfee's Knob is part of the Appalachian trail, which is 2,000 miles long! Although there was a chill in the air, we had a great time. Koa is a great little hiker and protected us from any ferocious creature we may have passed along the way!

Monday morning we drove back to Raleigh as we eagerly anticipated a phone call from Elder Rose! Jeff received permission from the MTC to call when he arrived at the Salt Lake airport. It was great to talk to Jeff while he waited for his departing flight to Argentina. Jeff sounds very happy and is very excited for the opportunities that await him in the mission field.
We love you Jeff! You are setting a great example for us all.

While in Raleigh we stayed two and half days with Joan Harper. While Floyd worked, Joan and I visited, went shopping and attended the Raleigh temple. Before going to Joan's we drove by our former homes. The Leland trees next to our Pike Road home are enormous. and the vacant lots next to our home are no longer vacant!

Although the Research Triangle area is still very familiar, Raleigh has grown by leaps and bounds. Many once desolate areas have now been developed into housing and shopping areas.

Joan hosted an evening at her home for us to see as many of our former friends as were available. We were able to see Ruth and "Baby" George West, Jim and Kim Golden, Bob and Brenda Krallis, Nancy Ogarek, Jerry and Willie Burgeon, and Donald and Jan Gilreath. Although we have been gone from North Carolina for nine and a half years, the years melted away as we reminisced about the many memories of former days.

Wednesday evening we flew to Hartford, Connecticut and spent five days with Kristen, Shawn and Parker. The 32 degree temperatures we had in Blacksburg were a heat wave compared to the 15 degree temperatures in New Britain! Needless to say, we spent a lot of time inside! We visited a carousel museum, Chuckee Cheese's, and Imagine Nation (a children's activity center). Our time with Kristen and Shawn revolved around what would be fun for Parker. For playing with Parker was the highlight of our visit with Kristen and Shawn. He is so cute! Parker melted our hearts and warmed up to us very quickly.

Our visits with Mike, Diane, Kristen, Shawn and Parker was way too short and keeps us longing for our next visit.

After an eventful trip at the Raleigh airport we have returned home. Raleigh received five inches of snow during the night prior to our 8:00 am flight. If you remember, snow cripples Raleigh. Everything shuts down and store shelves are depleted. However after two failed attempts of sitting on the runway for 3 plus hours each, we arrived home safe and sound January 20 at midnight.

Snow

Mesa Temple Christmas Lights

During our visit with grandma and grandma Rose we visited the Mesa temple to see the lights. Here are some examples of what dad captured with the camera wiile we were there.

Counting

Here is our little counter!!

Look at all that snow!

Parker is in love with the shovel. Maybe next time we will let him shovel the whole driveway. The first day he didn't really want to be in the snow but now he never wants to get out of it.

Our little scientist

Santa

As a I predicted, Parker loves Santa from a distance. He even loves the little Santa on our countdown calender, but the real man- There was no way he was going to sit on his lap alone. But we did get a pciture, at least Parker isn't crying.

Christmas lights

Remember that house in Gilroy that used to have their lights set up the the 12 days of Christmas. I think this guy has got him beat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0IwpRzWL_4

Ice Cream Snowman

Tonight for FHE we made an ice cream snowman. Simple treat but fun to eat! Parker helped decorate our snowman and then we all helped to eat it.

These boots were made for walking

For your veiwing pleasure- Boy in boots!

Halloween Kitties

I didn't dress up Madison, so I included a picture of her too.

Mom, here is that picture we talked about today- Parker wearing a brand new cushie tushie on his head.

Our little Teletubbie, thanks for the costume kim.

Trunk or treat fun!

Parker's first big owie

A corn can, a trip to the ER from my wonderful Visiting Teaching companion who was on her way to the house and 4 stitches later we are all better for the moment. He is a trooper.

What happened to my baby?

How can he turn into such a little boy over night? Today I told him no TV until after we take a nap and he answered OK. If you look closely in the bottom picture he is wearing his black dress shoes. He has been wanting to pick out his own shoes lately. I guess we knew this day would come, just not so soon.

Best Deals this week in Colorado

Albertsons
Powerade-buy 10 get 5 free. This makes them .53 cents each
Hansen's Apple Juice .99c limit 2
Bananas .39c/lb

Walmart
Bell Peppers .50c
red grapes $1/lb
Red/bartlett pears $1/lb
Butter 1.99

Bubbles and Leaves

Parker has a facination with "Buba" Which are bubbles. He loves to get his hand on that little stick and get bubbles all over. He it getting pretty good at blowing a few bubbles and would do better if he would keep the stick away from his mouth and keep it out of his mouth. It sure doesn't taste as good as a lollipop.

Raking leaves- at least trying.

Pumpkins and apples

Saturday we went to pick a pumpkin at Lyman Orchards and decided to pick a couple apples too while we were there. We only got 12 apples but that took us quite a while because Parker kept finding apples on the ground and taking bites out of them and the apples were pretty picked over- it must be the end of the season. We had to make sure that the apples weren't rotten that Parker was taking bites out of and he isn't that fast of a walker while eating.

Trying to pick up a pumpkin. The sound effects were pretty cute.

Crazy hair and another apple. Every time we take a picture now, Parker has to look at it and we must have taught him something. He looks at the picture and says "awww cue"- which means aww cute.

Almost ready to go. We had a bag with some apples and Parker and I both had a muddy shoe so we were ready to head home.

We love the Fall in New England. This picture doesn't do justice to hoe pretty it is. If anyone makes it out here when it is semi warm we could take a drive up to Lyman Farms- I didn't get a piece of apple pie which I hear is supposed to be pretty good.

This might tempt you a little to use coupons

Kelloggs cereals usually are 3.49 a box at stop and shop. This week they had a sale buy 2 for 3 dollars on certain cereals, I don't normally buy apple jacks for corn pops, but I found a coupon the internet at coupons.com for 1 dollar off any box of kelloggs cereals- it actually was on there 4 or 5 times so I printed out some and I came home with $24.43 for only 3.50! That's 50 cents a box. Deals like these make me wish I could find coupons for everything. Don't we all like to save a little money now and then.

Our Home is Finsihed!

The repairs to our home from the broken water pipe are completed. We are really enjoying having everything back to normal. It is very nice to be able to sit in an organized living room and to sit at the kitchen table and actually be able to see the table! Even though the experience caused a lot of chaos in our home, we feel very blessed to have new carpet, freshly painted walls, and insurance to cover the majority of the costs.

Anderson Family Happenings

Parker wasn't so fond of the camel. It had hairy flabby lips, but liked to be very friendly.

A "cow" as Parker puts it. Everything is either a cow or a dog these days except for birds- those he has down. Some of the rabbits were big enough that they resembled a miniature cow.

This is my attempt at a cool picture. Parker had lots of fun running around this rock structure on our drive this weekend.

The bird- Parker is learning to be more gentle. We are working on sitting calm while the bird is out so he doesn't jump on it and squash it. I think he wishes the bird could stay out all day because he doesn't like when we put him back in his cage. Right now the birds name is bird. We asked Parker what he wanted to call the bird and and he said bird. We are trying to teach Parker that there is a difference between mommy and daddy- for a while he would point at himself and say daddy. So lately he will point at me and say mommy and to Shawn and say Daddy and to the bird and say bird. This he repeats over and over and over, But at least he is getting it. So Bird it is for right now.

We hope that everyone is doing well and we love you all.